Russian Piano Music Features in this Month's Knitting Concert

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Robert Bridge's programme includes Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons

Tchaikovsky’s piece evokes scenes from the harshness of winter to harvest time

June 24, 2025

A programme of full-blown lush Romantic piano music and high-wire piano virtuosity is promised for the next Knitting Concert at All Saint’s Church on Putney Common.

Robert Bridge is to perform a programme of Russian works including Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons on Sunday 29 June at 6pm. There will also be readings from Galina Gorskaya and themes from Glinka's Life for the Tsar by Balakirev.

Robert says, “Tchaikovsky wrote The Seasons over a six-month period from the end of 1875 to the middle of 1876. There are twelve pieces, each named after a month in the year. You may feel that the title is inapt. You would not be the first person to raise that point. Each piece depicts a scene, from the harshness of Russian winter to the brilliance of the White Nights, through to harvesting and sleigh rides. Written during the composition of Swan Lake these pieces are a pocket version of the ballet.

"Tchaikovsky supplied some verses to preface the first couple of movements and then his publisher took over and produced texts for all twelve movements, short snatches of poetry from Pushkin, Tolstoy and others. I am delighted that Galina Korskaya, Russian language teacher and former journalist, will be reading these texts, both in Russian and in their English translation, in between the music.”

As ever the concerts are free, you can drink as much wine as you like and you can bring something to do whilst you listen, if you want to: if you are a knitter then you are asked to use bamboo needles rather than the metal ones.

A retiring collection covers any costs with anything left over goes to Trinity Hospice. This has particular meaning for Robert as the charity provided a sanctuary and final resting place for his friend who passed away earlier this month.

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